Kiran K. Soma

Dr. Kiran K. Soma is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. He holds a PhD from the University of Washington (2000). His research focuses on behavioral neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, and neuroethology, with an emphasis on hormonal regulation of behavior, stress, diet, and immune function. Key areas include the effects of maternal diet on offspring development and the role of neurosteroids in brain circuits. He has over 120 publications, cited over 7,000 times.

Education: PhD in Psychology, University of Washington, 2000.

Research Interests: Dr. Soma investigates how hormones, neural circuits, and immune responses interact to influence behavior. Key topics include the rapid effects of estrogens and androgens on aggression, the impact of dietary sucrose on steroid signaling, and glucocorticoid regulation in lymphoid organs. His work bridges fundamental and translational science, with implications for mental health and developmental disorders.

Awards:

• Killam Award for Excellence in Mentoring (2020)
• AAAS Fellow (2015)
• Killam Faculty Research Prize (2012)

Lab and Collaborations: His lab studies neuroendocrine mechanisms in animals (e.g., songbirds, rodents) and humans. Notable collaborations include work on maternal diet effects and interdisciplinary projects on local steroidogenesis in immune and brain tissues.